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REFLECTING ON THE RESURRECTION Mark 16:6 - And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. An expected event unexpectedly happened!  Despite Jesus’s threefold announcement that he would rise from the dead (see Matt 16:21–23, Matt 17:22–23, Matt 20:17–19), the eleven apostles were not present and the women at the tomb were prepared to cover his dead body with aromatic spices (16:1).  Imagine their understandable alarm when they discovered the unguarded sepulcher, the magnificent angel, and the empty tomb (16:2-5). The angel unmistakably announced that Jesus of Nazareth, who was dead, is now risen and alive! The tomb was empty!  The women were given the task to tell the disciples that a reunion would take place in Galilee (16:7).  Yet the women did not say anything to anyone for some time (16:8; see also Matthew 28:8) because they were afraid.  They were astonished at the angel’s awesome disclosure that God had raised Jesus from the dead.  Mark repeatedly emphasized the truth that Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection was astonishing and frightening at times (see Mark 4:41; 5:15, 33, 36, 42; 6:50–52; 9:32; 10:32).  Their reverence reduced them to silence and contemplation.   The remainder of the chapter reads like a summary reflection on the events of Jesus’s life with a recollection of his commands and promises (16:9-20).  Solemn silence and reflective recollections must motivate a response to Jesus’s call to action.  Although the disciples did not believe the resurrection would actually happen, the Living Proof was standing right in front of them (see also Acts 1:3).  Jesus was alive, and the world needed to hear that message.  “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,” Jesus directed (16:15).  The good news for man’s bad news is that Jesus paid the price for sin by dying on the cross.  He proved that his divine mission was accomplished when he rose from the dead.  Those who put their trust in Jesus alone for the pardon of sin will be saved; those who do not will be damned (16:16).  There is no other way.  There is no other hope.  There is no other message.  There is no better proof!  Many Christians are silent today just like the women at the tomb.  While the resurrection is the greatest and most central truth to the validity of our Christian faith, we must give voice to the truth by sharing the gospel with everyone.  In these perilous times of uncertainty, the time is now to share the gospel with those who are not saved.  Reach out to someone who needs to know the gospel. Their salvation depends on you giving voice to the truth of the resurrection. Do not delay if you have never put your unreserved confidence in Jesus Christ.  Do not avoid making a decision about Jesus.  Do not put it off until tomorrow.  No one is promised tomorrow. Why wait? If you call upon the name of the Lord with sincere believing trust then he will pardon your sins against God.  It is better to stand in forgiveness in the resurrection power of Jesus and than it is to stand in condemnation under the righteousness judgment of Jesus (Acts 17:30-31). Call out to Jesus in faith today! Daily Reading: Mark 16:1-8 Bible Reading Challenge: 14 Days on the Resurrection For more info about Liberty Baptist check out www.libertybaptistnc.com  Read more devotionals at www.learningthewayofwisdom.wordpress.com  Follow Liberty Baptist at https://faithlife.com/lbcnc

BREAKING POINTS & BUILDING POINTS John 11:25-26 - Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? Lazarus was dead.  His sisters, Martha and Mary, grieved his death and sent for Jesus, and Jesus traveled with his disciples to Bethany to meet the family (11:1-15).  The Father revealed to Jesus that this incident would result in God’s glory despite the immense sadness.  Martha, the bolder of the two sisters, met Jesus on his way into town.  Her faith in his power was sincere, albeit limited.  Truly, Jesus could have prevented the death of her brother, but God’s plan had a great purpose in mind (read about Peter’s limited understanding in Matthew 16:21-23).  Jesus declared, “I am the resurrection, and the life.”  Such a statement was reflective of his innate nature, not merely his authority (John 1:4; Matthew 28:18).  He not only had the blessing of God; Jesus is God incarnate (John 1:14, 18).  Life was standing right in front of Martha, and he would soon impart life again to Lazarus.  Martha made a great confession of Jesus’s identity (11:27), but did not fully realize the vast expanse of his power.   Martha’s situation placed her at both a breaking point and a building point.  Jesus works in the situations in our lives to further reveal the extent of his marvelous power.  When we know a little about Jesus, he arranges a circumstance to help us understand him more clearly.  Our expanded growth of faith and understanding was the prayer of Paul, and it should be the prayer of everyone who walks with the Lord (Ephesians 1:18-19).  What is going on in your life right now that is both breaking and building your understanding of Jesus? Lazarus was dead. Jesus demonstrated his matchless power when he called to Lazarus to come forth from the tomb (11:43).  Lazarus was a believer in Jesus and his close friend.  His resurrection shows us that physical death is irrelevant for those who are spiritually alive.  Jesus imparts eternal life.  People are spiritually dead.  People are spiritually dead because of trespasses against God’s Law and sins against God’s holy character.  Spiritually dead people are called to come experience the life-giving power of Jesus (Ephesians 2:1, John 11:42). Each person has an appointment with death (Hebrews 9:27).  The only way to receive the gift of eternal life is to receive it by faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Jesus is Life.  His grace alone can pardon your sin.  God, who is rich in mercy and love, sent Jesus to impart life to all who come to him in faith (Ephesians 2:5-7; John 17:3). If you have never received the gift of eternal life then you are spiritually “dead,” which means you are separated from God.  Just as death is the separation of soul from the body, so spiritual death is the separation of the soul from God.  I urge you to turn away from your unbelief and put your unreserved confidence in Jesus Christ.  He stands ready to give spiritual life to all of us facing physical death (Romans 3:23, 6:23).  If you call upon the name of the Lord with sincere believing trust then he will rescue you from the penalty of sin (Romans 10:9-10, 13).  If you are not spiritually alive in Christ, will you call upon him today? Daily Reading: John 11:17-27 Bible Reading Challenge: 14 Days on the Resurrection For more info about Liberty Baptist check out www.libertybaptistnc.com  Read more devotionals at www.learningthewayofwisdom.wordpress.com